Born in Marlborough, Wiltshire in 1965 to Christopher and Marguerite Chapman, Lady Bathurst grew up in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Sara grew up in a patriotic home with old-fashioned values, instilling in her a natural sense of duty and a deeply charitable conscience, as well as a hefty dose of independence. It was this same independence that encouraged her to go further afield and so, after school, she travelled to the United States where she settled in Chicago in 1986.

She stayed in the US for five years, exploring much of the country, and looks back on her time in America, where she gained ‘more than a lifetimes worth of experiences and knowledge’, with huge affection and appreciation.

Her return to the UK in 1991 saw her joining the family business of independent bookshops in the South West as a partner, where shortly afterwards she met her husband Allen, the then Lord Apsley, in 1993. They married in 1996 when she moved to the Cotswolds – she had always said she wanted to marry a farmer!

Since then, her time has been spent running the house at Cirencester Park, supporting her husband and involving herself deeply in the Gloucestershire community in a number of roles, mostly associated with charities around the county.

Since the death of her father-in-law, the 8th Earl Bathurst, Lady Bathurst has become involved as President and Patron to many more local charities and associations.

This included becoming patron to Herefordshire and Gloucestershire charity Salters Hill. Following the merger of Salters Hill and Walsingham Support in 2018 she kindly agreed to become our Vice President, keen to continue to help increase the quality of life and happiness of every person we support.

Lady Bathurst also served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire from 2016-17 and has recently taken on the role as a PCC Ambassador for Gloucestershire.

Amongst her many passions, her dogs, the countryside and farming are especially dear to her.